Combined couch and folding bed.



PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905.

D. T. OWEN. COMBINED COUCH AND FOLDING BED,

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1903.

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V COMBINED COUCH AND FOLDING BED.

APPLIOATIQN FILED AUG. 20. 1903.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

in L Invrnrnm ATTEST. v V MM JGDW UNITED STATES Patented June 6, 1905.

PATENT OF ICE.

DAVID T. OWEN, OE CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE D. T. OWEN COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COMBINED COUCH AND FOLDING BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,716, dated June 6, 1905.

Application filed August 20, 1903. Serial No. 170,149.

To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that 1, DAVID T. OWEN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Couch and Folding Bed; and I do declare that the following is a. full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in a combined couch and folding bed; and theimprovement consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, all substantially as hereinafter shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide both a bed and a couch combined in one article of furniture which when used for their respective purposes are both comfortable and also attractive to the eye and wherein the change of one to the other is effected by a simple movement perfectly under the control of the operator.

It is also my aim to produce a bed and couch combined of simple construction wherein the couch is adapted to become the front support of the bed when the bed is lowered for use.

Another object is to produce a bed and a couch which cooperate to support each other when used for their respective purposes.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved couch and bed as it appears when in use as a couch. Fig. 2 is an end elevation showing the bed partly tilted and the couch moved forward as occurs in the preliminary movement of lowering the bed. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the bed and couch as in use as a bed. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of one corner of the bed, showing a link connection for folding and locking the pivoted end for the bed in both raised and lowered positions. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modification of my improved bed and couch.

. A represents the bed, and B the couch, al-

. though both bed and couch are necessarily connected together to form a unitary structure wherein the bottom of the bed becomes the back of the couch and also wherein the bed becomes in part a support for the couch when in use as a couch and the couch becomes in part a support for the bed when in .use asa bed. Thus bed A is shown as built up with an open frame a, of wood or other suitable material, which frame is provided with a suitable spring bed-bottom a, upholstered or finished over its bottom to provide a spring-cushioned back for the couch. The mattress and bedclothing rest upon spring a and are confined by the sides and ends of frame a. Foot and rail sections C of the bed are pivoted upon the corner-posts or ends of frame a, and a link 0 having a slotted catch at its end is connected with said sections and looks over pins 0 or 0 upon frame a to hold said sections either in upright or lowered position. When lowered, the sections hold the mattress and bedclothing securely within frame a.

At-each rear corner of bed-frame aisarigid leg a provided with a caster a at its outer end, and other casters, (0, are mounted upon the rear of frame a to support the same directly from the floor when the bed is standing in vertical position. When used as a couch, the leg a projects forward from bed-frame a and lies on a parallel plane with the floor and in this instance a few inches above the floor. The weight of the bed in the position as shown in Fig. 1 is carried by casters a, and couch B is independently supported at its front by its own legs or supports 6, having casters 6'. A curved arm or extension 6 attached to the rearof side arms 6 of couch B, rests within a recess in the face of frame a, and a pivot pin or screw connects couch and bed pivotally' together. Pivot Z2 is preferably located at a point to the rear of the vertical center of front caster a to bring the weight of couch B and the weight to be carried thereby upon all casters a and b. This arrangement tends to keep the couch and bed parts in abutting or locked relation when usedas a couch.

The movement and disposition of the sev eral parts to bring the bed down over the couch is as follows: The upper front part of frame a is grasped by the hand, and the bed is tilted forward, as seen in Fig. 2, until a device here shown as a spur or heel projection upon leg 60 strikes the floor. This heel point of engagement of leg a with the floor now becomes the fulcrum of the movement as further tilting of the bed occurs and whereby the bed is raised at the rear to bring the bed-bottom on a level or plane with the floor. Couch B during this movement is forced forward through its pivot connection with the bed and rides upon casters 5 over the floor. The moment caster a at the bottom of leg ((1 rests upon the floor the down movement of the bed at its front and the weight of the bed causes the bed to roll upon casters (0 but all movement forward is now checked by holding couch B stationary, which is done by the operator, who stands in the path of the couch and can engage and hold the couch with his knees or body. Thus the latter part of the movement of bed A is controlled from a changed fulcrum, this now being pivot b, aiid caster (0 rolls over the floor until frame a rests upon the top of corner posts or legs 6 of couch B, as seen in Fig. 3. The bed is now supported at its front entirely by couch B, and the legs Z) of the couch now become the front legs of the bed proper both in appearance and in effect. Head and foot sections 0 C are now raised and locked in vertical position, and the front board or piece a which is hinged or pivoted at its ends at a at the front and between the ends of frame a, is lowered to hide the couch at the front and to permit seating upon the edge of the mattress without interference. The bed is now to all outward appearance nothing but a bed, as the couch is practically hidden. When the usual sheets and bedclothing are unfolded and draped, the couch is entirely concealed and the bed appears an ordinary bed having fixed ends and fixed legs.

If desired, both couch and bed may be upholstered to completely conceal the frame, and when this is done an exact davenport design is obtained. In fact, the design and general outline of the frame may be widely departed fromand still remain within the scope of the 5 invention. Thus in Fig. 5 I show an upholstered frame operatiy ely connected and built up substantially as hereinbefore described, except that in this instance the pivot connections are brought forward and constructed to accommodate the retirement of the upholster ing on the bottom of bed A as the bed is lowered. The front of the bed is intended here to restdirectly upon the top front of the couch. The supporting-surface of the bed and couch in this instance is shown and described as the floor, although separate tracks or any other suitable support may sufiice.

What I claim is 1. The combination of a bed provided with rigid legs at its rear at right angles to the bedbottom with a couch supported atits front for free movement forward, and provided with a pivoted connection at its rear with said bed, substantially as described.

2. In a combined bed and couch, the bed having a rigid leg at each rear corner, in combination with a couch pivotally suspended at its rear from said bed and a front support therefor, substantially as described.

3. The bed and the couch pivotally connected, legs for said bed arranged at right angles to the bed-bottom,and legs for said couch at right angles to the plane of the couch, substantiall y as described.

4:. A bed-frame constructed to be folded, in combination with a couch pivotally suspended at its rear from said bed-frame, and a support for the couch at its front constructed to permit forward movement of the couch when the bed is lowered, substantially as described.

5. A bed-frame and fixed legs at right angles to said frame,in combination with a couch pivotally suspended centrally between the rear and front and at the bottom of said frame,and a support for the front of said couch, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID T. OWEN.

Witnesses:

R. B. MosnR, R. ZBORINK. 

